Your dog is happier and healthier with enrichment activities. A great way to bring enrichment to your pooch is with a lick mat! They are a great way to entertain your dog and work their canine brain.
Lick Mats and Recipes
A lick mat is a textured mat smeared with dog friendly foods for your furry friend to lick off. They engage your dog in sniffing and licking to bring enrichment to their day. Plus, they may help to ease symptoms of anxiety from bathing, grooming, or other stressful activities.
Lick Mat Recipes
1. Base Coating
Choose from the following for a dense base coat.
Peanut butter - The sticky texture of peanut butter makes a great base to stick in other goodies. Just make sure it does not contain Xylitol, a substance toxic to dogs.
Plain Greek yogurt - Makes a great base for mix-ins, especially if frozen.
Canned pumpkin - Makes a good base for dogs with constipation or diarrhea. It is also a good low-calorie option.
Cottage cheese - Exclude any that has fruit mixed in.
2. Sweet Ad-Ins
Fruit - Chopped up apples or bananas are a good option if you want to go the easy route. If you choose to use strawberries or watermelon you need to freeze them beforehand to keep things from getting too messy.
Applesauce - Use a natural, sugar free variety. Check that is does not contain Xylitol.
Carrots - Chopped up carrots are another easy add in that will bring a welcome crunch.
3. Savory add-ins
Vegetables - Chopped celery, cucumbers and green beans are a great add-in.
Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes - Make sure the potatoes are prepared plain with no sugar or butter.
Ground meat - Use chicken, salmon, or beef. Exclude meats with lots of seasoning.
Extra Tips & Tricks:
If you find your pooch licks the mat clean too quickly, try putting it in the freezer for a half hour. A frozen mat is a wonderful cool treat for a hot day
To clean your dog’s lick mat, soak it in warm water with dish soap. Then scrub it to remove the residue or pop the mat in the dishwasher on a low setting.
Silicone ice cube tray or baking sheet both make good lick mat options. To give you a quick overview of commercial lick mats a few are included below.
Lick Mat Recommendations:
Lick mats are not required for pets. But they add enrichment, helps dogs exercise their brain, and are fun for your dog!
All proceeds from Thousand Hills Pet Resort support New Life K9s. New Life K9s provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD at no cost to them.
Resources: https://pupford.com/lick-mat-guide/